I need some advice. I got in a wreck in November. It took till just 3 weeks ago for the body shop adjuster and the insurance adjuster to Agree on the amount of damage to the car. So I take the car into the body shop. It has been there for three weeks and I call them this morning to make sure it was still good for me to pick it up. They say that I can pick it up and the total is going to be $780. So Im like WTF for? They fixed a dent in the trunk that was supposed to be on the repair ticket (and wasn't). They also fixed a tear in the driver seat (that I didnt tell them to fix). So they basically fixed $780 worth of extra stuff that I/ insurance company did not authorize and they are saying I cant pick up my car till the ballance is paid in full! I need some advice! Someone with any knowledge please help me with this!

On a side note, the day I dropped of my car the body shop manager asked if I wanted them to detail the car.It was going to cost me an extra $120!!! I told the manager not to detail it, that I would do it myself! He told me today that they went ahead and detailed it and didnt charge me for the service! Really! This body shop owner apparently just does what he wants!

 

Call your insurance adjuster and tell them they won't release the car. Anything more than the deductible, you are not requierd to pay to get your car back.

 

do you have a quote or estimate from them?
Any kind of written contract that you have signed or anything?

 

I don't think insurance is going to help much,

insurance only covers what was damaged during the accident, if you wand to do some additional repairs to your car......it's not insurance problem.


To me it sounds like shop is trying to take this guy for a ride.

If he does not have any kind of estimate from them I would call and request a signed proof of you (the owner) authorizing this particular work that they are charging you for.


Now there is a scary downside in all this.
Let's say you start a battle with this shop and try to take your car back without paying anything. And after a few days of going back and forth and maybe involving some attorneys you do prevail and take your car back.
Considering the fact that the shop sounds kinda shady already, are you sure they not going to fvck your car up somehow?

If I were you, I would not **** them off to much. Just calmly ask for a copy of a signed authorization for that additional work, if they don't have it and you have some kind of estimate from them that does not include that work in it simply pay the bill, take the car, drive it straight into the court house and file a small claim.

If there are no evidence of you approving that work, then I'm sure you'll be compensated.

 

hmm, did you have to sign some papers agreeing to fixing your car? They usually have that check box saying like " I only agree to whats on here blah blah.."

 

Insurance adjusters do care if you get your car back, and they care if the repairs was done correctly. The last two involvements with my insurance they have always called to follow up on the repairs.

Actually, you as the car owner has to go and sign over the check to the shop. The Insurance cuts a check out to the shop but you have to authorize that they can deposit it. Thats thee way it's always been done with me. I don't sign over until I feel they did a good job.

 

you are correct, but it only concerns the repairs authorized by insurance company, Anything extra is out of your pocket and insurance does not care about that.

 

I didnt sign anything. I never authorized any of it.

 

so you don't have any quotes or estimate papers from them?

 

i think thats gonna be the biggest problem in this situation

 

I have the quote from the insurance company that covered the damage and they took it on their own to fix the other stuff. I have no estimate and did not recieve as much as a phone call about the extra charges untill they droped the bomb on me this morning. I mean as far as i know it is a reputable shop. It is thrifty car sales repair shop.

 

^^ they would have given a quote to your insurance company. call them, and tell them that they need to pay more as you have already paid the deductable, if they fixed something that was not covered under the warranty, then that is the body shop's problem.

 

Is there any legal reprocussion for going to the body shop after I get off and picking up my car?

 

I talked to the shop. They are goig to eat the cost of labor which brings the total down to $480. Should I have to pay for that? Can they by law keep my car if I refuse to pay for it?

 

They can put a mechanics lien on your car making it theirs if you havent paid for whats owed. I would say Im not paying for any of that ****, I never authorized you to fix any of that. Get a lawyer involved and go after their throat.